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 Replies: 19 / Views: 4,619 |
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
I'm new to this forum and numismatism. I would like to know which is a better investment and value a U.S. mint uncirculated coin or proof coin.
Today the 2017 D and P uncuirculated coin sets are available.
I am considering purchasing two sets of each mint. I would like to pull select coins from the 2017 sets and have them graded. I'm assuming they're going to come out someplace around MS 65 or perhaps above.
I am operating on the assumption that the U.S. Mint selects some of its better uncirculated production products to put in the uncirculated sets. Is this a safe assumption as well?
Please any advice would be helpfu.
I would like to see as much information as I can have on this subject thank you very much
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
In general for newer coins, I believe proofs would be a better investment (except maybe the 2017-P cent). They are specially produced, selected and packaged. As far as I know, coins in uncirculated sets are from the same batch as what goes into circulation, not specially selected. Edit: or even better, get both proof and UNC sets.  In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
Edited by spru
05/17/2017 7:13 pm
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Valued Member
United States
404 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
I don't know what the prices are these days for recent or current production proof and mint set coins but I would imagine they aren't cheap without looking.
Me, I would take a look at pre 1965 proof sets and compare the costs. I bet the price is surprising comparable for 55 to 60 year old proof sets and what gets put out these days.
But ... I would be picky on what is the condition of the coins in the older proof sets. I'd be looking for frosted or cameo and I'd watch out for milky surfaces and carbon spots. If you are paying for newer mint sets and they cost 35 or 40 bucks and that's what you like and want, don't let me sway ya.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
As far as I understand, Mints around the World produce 'uncirculated' coins with fresh dies, before the dies are recycled for 'to be issued for circulation' business strikes.
In some instances, a little more effort is expended to also produce better blanks / planchets for 'uncirculated' collector coins, which are then packaged for the collector.
Proof coins are produced with polished cameo dies and using polish finish blanks. The standard of packaging is also much higher as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1187 Posts |
 I wouldn't consider any modern uncirculated or proof set as an investment unless you get a very good price on them. They usually make so many that they drop in value so it's better to buy second hand. With that said I like the 2009 sets. The UC set contains some satin bronze 1 cent coins only found in that set. The 2009 proof set has a good amount of silver and appears to be a good value. It also contains the special 1 year 2009 cents. I can't speak to the 2017 sets however they also could be considered a 1 year special since the P mint mark is on the penny. Only time will tell if they go up in value. The only way a modern proof or UC is going to bring much of a profit is if it grades really high. With the cost of slabbing, it might be more cost effective to just buy the coins already slabbed with a grade you're happy with. You run a big risk of paying a ton for grading only to get a coin back with a lower grade than what you wanted. Good luck, you will learn a lot here! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I buy a proof set and an uncirculated set directly from the mint every year and to be honest, neither is a particularly good investment. Prices on these sets typically don't increase much although there is the occasional exception. I would buy them because you like the coins, not for any other reason.
Uncirculated coins in mint sets are specially struck. From the mint's website:
United States Mint uncirculated coins are struck on special presses using greater force than circulating coins, producing a sharp, intricately detailed image
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
As some have posted. Neither are a good investment.
There have been a couple years where one or bothe sets increase in
price .. from the issue price. Most can be bought for less than issue
price, after a few years.
I would say silver proof sets have a better chance of holding value.
The sales of mint and proof sets seem to be treading down. I am guessing there
are not as many collectors interested in them.
Buy them if you like them ... not for investment.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
Back in the 70s and 80s, my grandfather bought proof sets thinking they were a great investment. The prices he paid were the equivalent of about 5 times what I could get for them now IF I could sell them. A coin shop will offer, sometimes, less than face value since they cannot make a profit on them - people just don't buy them. modern silver proof sets, since they are PM, will not lose as much value over the years. Although the initial price is a bit high direct from the mint. You normally can get the silver sets at a better price on ebay if you wait a year or so. The silver 3-piece bicentennial set I bought back in '76 is the only one I would be able to sell easily today. How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halveshttps://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2 |
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
to the family! As stated, I buy online auction a lot. I see series of mint and proof sets, sometimes 20 or more consecutive year runs go for less than $100-150...not even half of what that cost in yesteryear's dollar. Buying mint sets that way could fill up ALL your collection media for peanuts when compared to buying each item at a time. Besides which, it costs to attribute a coin that WON'T appreciate in valued for many, many years. Just not smart. |
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Valued Member
United States
294 Posts |
In the case of U.S. Mint coins, I don't think they are a good investment for future potential at all. Be it uncirculated or proof, they produce gazillions of coins so that none are really rare. If you're looking at investment coins, there are far better coins to consider other than the crap that the U.S. Mint puts out year after year.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
There are much bigger profits to be made for Mints to produce large volumes of proof sets and uncirculated sets with zero investment potential,
than to produce them in tiny numbers for a large investment potential to the collector.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3323 Posts |
Just my "2 cents"  I can't help but think that unc or proof sets purchased second hand would be ones that the dealer considers lower quality and not worthy of grading. When I buy previous year sets, I try to buy unopened sets, still in the US Mint outer package. Maybe I'm paranoid? "Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Moderator
 United States
188052 Posts |
When buying proof sets on the secondary market, do know that the OGP is not sealed and the coins are easy to swap out.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
I can't help but think that unc or proof sets purchased second hand would be ones that the dealer considers lower quality and not worthy of grading. There are instances where that is the case sometimes from the big boys with brand new sets. That said most dealers and ebay sellers don't bother searching these for grading especially when talking about proof sets. If the newer proofs don't hit a 70 they will almost always be a money loser and even when they do a lot of them have a very modest price as a 70. Basically it just isn't worth most dealers time to search them and hunt for 70s and most would rather just sell them for a small profit and be done with them. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
Dan! As others have mentioned these are not a good investment. I get an Uncirculated set, Proof set and Silver proof set every year and if I were to try and sell them today I would take a huge loss on them. But I want to keep them current so I keep buying them. If you want graded modern coinage just buy them already graded. You will save a lot of money that way. If I were going to start collecting them today I would just buy a silver proof set every year. |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 4,619 |
Posted 05/17/2017 8:24 pm
